System and method for providing external notifications of events in a virtual space to users

ABSTRACT

External notifications of events that take place within a virtual space may be provided to users. External notifications may be sent, for example, via email, text message, instant message (external from the virtual space), push notification and/or through other external communication media. These external notifications may be generated based on parameters, such as user parameters, event parameters, and/or other parameters. The parameters may include one or more parameters that are dynamic and/or one or more parameters that are static. The notifications may include incentive offers. The incentive offers may include offers of virtual items within the virtual space. The incentive offers may require a response to the notification for redemption. The incentive offers may enhance engagement with the virtual space by users.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to providing notifications of events within avirtual space, the notifications transmitted through communication mediaexternal to the virtual space and/or including incentive offers forvirtual goods.

BACKGROUND

Typically, virtual spaces are configured such that users are notified ofevents that have occurred or are occurring (and in some cases that willoccur) in the virtual space only while the users are logged in to thevirtual space. This may decrease an engagement of users with the virtualspace while they are logged out of the virtual space because they maynot have access to what is currently transpiring in the virtual space.

Some providers of virtual spaces may provide digests or reports ofevents in the virtual space generally to users. Such digests or reportsmay be assembled manually, and may be mass distributed without regard tospecific users. The types of events referred to in such reports ordigests may include incentives, maintenance notices, information aboutnew content, and/or other happenstance that are generally applicable tousers of the virtual space.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing notifications ofevents that take place within a virtual space to users of the virtualspace. Such notifications may keep users abreast of what is transpiringin the virtual space while they are not logged in. Further, suchnotifications may provide a mechanism for encouraging users to log backin to the virtual space, thereby enhancing engagement of the users withthe virtual space. The notifications may include incentive offers forvirtual goods to further encourage users to log back in. Notificationsmay be customized for the individual users based on user parameters,parameters of an event for which a notification may be generated, and/orother parameters of information.

A system configured to provide external notifications of events thattake place within a virtual space may include a server. The server mayoperate in a client/server architecture with one or more clientcomputing platforms. The client computing platforms may be associatedwith the users of the virtual space. The server may be configured toexecute one or more of user module, a trigger module, a notificationdecision module, a notification composition module, an offerdetermination module, a notification transmission module, an offerfulfillment module, and/or other modules.

The space module may configured to execute an instance of a virtualspace. The space module may implement the instance of the virtual spaceto facilitate participation by users in a game within the space bydetermining view information from the instance and transmitting the viewinformation to client computing platforms associated with the users. Theview information may facilitate presentation of views of the virtualspace to the users by the client computing platforms. The users mayparticipate in the game by controlling one or more entities within thevirtual space. The users may comprise a first user that controls a firstentity within the virtual space.

The user module may be configured to manage user accounts associatedwith the individual users. The user accounts may include user parametersrelated to the users. The user accounts may include a first user accountassociated with the first user that includes a first set of userparameters related to the first user.

The trigger module may be configured to identify trigger events withinthe virtual space that correspond to notifications. This may includemonitoring the instance of the virtual space to find trigger events inthe instance of the virtual space. The trigger module may identify theusers associated with the identified trigger events. For example,responsive to the occurrence of a first trigger event that impacts thefirst entity, the trigger module may identify the first trigger eventand may identify the first user as a user associated with the firsttrigger event.

The notification decision module may be configured to determine whetherthe notifications of the identified trigger events should be transmittedto the users associated with the identified trigger events. Thesedeterminations may be based on the user parameters related to the users.For example, responsive to identification of the first trigger event,the notification decision module may determine whether a firstnotification of the first trigger event should be transmitted to thefirst user based on at least one user parameter from the first set ofuser parameters. The at least one parameter from the first set of userparameters may include one or more of an activity metric that indicatesan activity of the first user in the virtual space, a parameterdetermined from information related to one or more previousnotifications transmitted to the first user, and/or a parameterdetermined from a response of the first user to a previous notification.

The notification composition module may be configured to composenotifications for transmission to the users. This may includedetermining one or more of notification content, notification format,communication media, and/or other aspects of the notifications.Notification content may include text, images, and/or other contentincluded in a notification. Determining the communication media mayinclude selecting one or more communication media (e.g., email, text,instant message, and/or other media) for a notification. A notificationmay be composed by the notification composition module based on one ormore of event parameters, user parameters, user settings, a selectedcommunication media for the notification, and/or other parameters orinformation.

The offer determination module may be configured to determine incentiveoffers of virtual items for inclusion in the notifications. Theincentive offers may be for virtual items within the virtual space. Thedeterminations of the incentive offers may include determining whetherindividual notifications should include incentive offers, determiningvirtual items for inclusion in the incentive offers, determining pricesor rebates for the incentive offers, determining incentive criteria tobe met for redemption of the incentive offers, and/or determining otheraspects of the incentive offers. The determinations of the incentiveoffers may be based on the user parameters. For example, determinationof a first incentive offer in the first notification may be determinedbased on at least one user parameter from the first set of userparameters, based on event parameters, and/or based other parameters orinformation. The incentive criteria may include a timeliness requirementthat may a response by the first user to the first notification within acertain amount of time from transmission of the first notification.

The notification transmission module may be configured to transmitnotifications through electronic communication media external to thevirtual space. For example, such that, responsive to the trigger moduledetermining that the first notification should be transmitted to thefirst user, the notification transmission module transmits the firstnotification to the first user via a first electronic communicationmedium that is external to the virtual space. The first electroniccommunication medium may include one or more of an email, a textmessage, an instant message, a push notification, and/or otherelectronic communication media.

The offer fulfillment module may be configured to facilitate redemptionof incentive offers included in notifications. This may include awardingvirtual items offered to users in accordance with the incentive offers.Awarding the virtual items to users may include providing the virtualitems to the users, and/or to entities under control of the users, inthe virtual space. For incentive offers having incentive criteria, theoffer fulfillment module may be configured to award the virtual itemsresponsive to the incentive criteria being fulfilled.

The notification response tracking module may be configured to trackresponses to notifications sent to the users. This may include trackingone or more access time(s) for notifications (e.g., throughcommunication with an email or messaging server), interactions with thenotifications, acceptance of offers in the notifications, logins byusers subsequent to receiving notifications, and/or other interactionswith or responses to the notifications. The information obtained by thenotification response tracking module in tracking responses tonotifications may be saved by the user accounts. The information may beused by the notification decision module, the notification compositionmodule, the offer determination module, and/or other modules.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the systemand/or method disclosed herein, as well as the methods of operation andfunctions of the related elements of structure and the combination ofparts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent uponconsideration of the following description and the appended claims withreference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however,that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and descriptiononly and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singularform of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to provide external notificationsof events that take place within a virtual space.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a notification of an event that has takenplace in a virtual space.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of providing external notifications ofevents that take place within a virtual space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 configured to provide externalnotifications of events that take place within a virtual space. Externalnotifications may be sent, for example, via email, text message, instantmessage (external from the virtual space), and/or through other externalcommunication media. These external notifications may be generated basedon parameters, such as user parameters, event parameters, and/or otherparameters. The parameters may include one or more parameters that aredynamic and/or one or more parameters that are static. The notificationsmay include incentive offers. The incentive offers may include offers ofvirtual items within the virtual space. The incentive offers may requirea response to the notification for redemption. The incentive offers mayenhance engagement with the virtual space by users. In someimplementations, system 10 may include a server 12. Server 12 may beconfigured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms 14according to a client/server architecture. The users may access system10 and/or the virtual space via client computing platforms 14.

Server 12 may be configured to execute one or more computer programmodules. The one or more computer program modules may include one ormore of a user module 16, a space module 18, a trigger module 20, anotification decision module 22, a notification composition module 24,an offer determination module 26, a notification transmission module 28,an offer fulfillment module 30, a notification response tracking module32, and/or other modules.

User module 16 may be configured to access and/or manage one or moreuser accounts associated with users of system 10. The user accounts mayinclude user information. The one or more user accounts and/or userinformation may include information stored by server 12, one or more ofthe client computing platforms 14, and/or other storage locations. Theuser accounts may include, for example, information identifying users(e.g., a username or handle, a number, an identifier, and/or otheridentifying information) within the virtual space, security logininformation (e.g., a login code or password), virtual space accountinformation, subscription information, virtual currency accountinformation (e.g., related to currency held in credit for a user),relationship information (e.g., information related to relationshipsbetween users in the virtual space), virtual space usage information,demographic information associated with users, interaction history amongusers in the virtual space, information stated by users, purchaseinformation of users, browsing history of users, a client computingplatform identification associated with a user, a phone numberassociated with a user, user settings, and/or other information relatedto users. The user information may include and/or indicate an activitylevel of the user. The activity level may include previous logintime(s), previous logout time(s), login frequency, time spent logged in,and/or other activity information. The user information may includeinformation related to purchases in or for the virtual space. Suchinformation may include, for example, purchase information forindividual transactions, a spend rate, a total spend amount, and/orother information related to user purchases.

As will be discussed further below, users may participate in the virtualspace by controlling entities within the virtual space. The userinformation in the user accounts may include information related to theentities controlled by the users in the virtual space. Such informationmay include, for example, an entity type, an entity class, an entityidentification, a level, inventory information, status information,and/or other information related to entities controlled by users in thevirtual space.

Space module 18 may be configured to implement the instance of thevirtual space executed by the computer modules to determine viewinformation defining views of the virtual space. The view informationmay then be communicated (e.g., via streaming, via object/position data,and/or other information) from server 12 to client computing platforms14 for presentation to users. The view information determined andtransmitted to a given client computing platform 14 may correspond to anentity being controlled by a user via the given client computingplatform 14. The view information determined and transmitted to a givenclient computing platform 14 may correspond to a location in the virtualspace (e.g., the location from which the view is taken, the location theview depicts, and/or other locations), a zoom ratio, a dimensionality ofobjects, a point-of-view, and/or view parameters. One or more of theview parameters may be selectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that isaccessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms 14)that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulatedspace may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction byone or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned withinthe topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. Insome instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. Inother instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. Thetopography may include dimensions of the space, and/or surface featuresof a surface or objects that are “native” to the space. In someinstances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a groundsurface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space.In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or morebodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived spacewith one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). The instanceexecuted by the computer modules may be synchronous, asynchronous,and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which views of the virtual spaceare determined by space module 18 is not intended to be limiting. Spacemodule 18 may be configured to express the virtual space in a morelimited, or more rich, manner. For example, views determined for thevirtual space may be selected from a limited set of graphics depictingan event in a given place within the virtual space. The views mayinclude additional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content,and/or other content) that describes particulars of the current state ofthe place, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a viewmay include a generic battle graphic with a textual description of theopponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual placeswithin the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by space module 16,users may control entities to interact with the virtual space and/oreach other. The entities may include one or more of characters, objects,simulated physical phenomena (e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/orother phenomena), and/or other elements within the virtual space. Theuser characters may include avatars. As used herein, an entity may referto an object (or group of objects) present in the virtual space thatrepresents an individual user. The entity may be controlled by the userwith which it is associated. The user controlled element(s) may movethrough and interact with the virtual space (e.g., non-user charactersin the virtual space, other objects in the virtual space). The usercontrolled elements controlled by and/or associated with a given usermay be created and/or customized by the given user. The user may have an“inventory” of virtual goods and/or currency that the user can use(e.g., by manipulation of a user character or other user controlledelement, and/or other items) within the virtual space.

Control over the entities may be exercised by the users through controlinputs and/or commands input through client computing platforms 14. Theusers may interact with each other through communications exchangedwithin the virtual space. Such communications may include one or more oftextual chat, instant messages, private messages, voice communications,and/or other communications. Communications may be received and enteredby the users via their respective client computing platforms 14.Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users throughserver 12 (e.g., through space module 18).

Within the virtual space, users may participate in a game. The game mayinclude various tasks, levels, quests, and/or other challenges oractivities for users to participate in. The game may include activitiesin which users (or their entities) are adversaries, and/or activities inwhich users (or their entities) are allies. The game may includeactivities in which users (or their entities) are adversaries ofnon-player characters, and/or activities in which users (or theirentities) are allies of non-player characters. In the game, entitiescontrolled by the user may obtain points, virtual currency or othervirtual items, experience points, levels, and/or other demarcationsindicating experience and/or success. Space module 18 may be configuredto perform the functions associated with the game in executing theinstance of the virtual space.

Trigger module 20 may be configured to identify trigger events withinthe virtual space. The trigger events may correspond to externalnotifications provided to the users. Trigger module 20 may identifytrigger events by monitoring the instance of the virtual space, andidentifying events occurring in the instance that correspond to eventsin a specific set of events. Trigger events may include or be associatedwith, for example, upgrades, contests (e.g., attacks, challenges, orother contest or invitations to contests), travel in the virtual space(e.g., as an entity or a portion of an entity travels from one locationin the virtual space to another locations), special occasions in thevirtual space, entity creation (e.g., spawning or generation of newunits of equipment and/or troops), and/or other events.

The events in the set of events may include various types of events. Forexample, the events in the set of events may include conclusory events,initiatory events, first party events, third party events, warningevents, and/or other types of events. A conclusory event may occur atthe end of some process. By way of example, a conclusory event may occurat the end of an upgrade period, at the end of a travel period, at theend of a contest (e.g., between entities controlled by users), at theend of a cool down period, and/or at the end of other processes. Aninitiatory event may occur at the beginning of a process. An event maybe a first party event to a user that initiates the event (or thecorresponding process), or the event may be a first party event to auser directly involved in the event (or the corresponding process). Anevent may be a third party event to a user that did not initiate theevent (or corresponding process), or the event may be a third partyevent to a user that is not directly involved in the event (orcorresponding process).

In identifying the trigger events, trigger module 20 may identify theusers associated with the trigger events. The users associated with atrigger event may include a user (or the user controlling the entity)that initiates the trigger event, a user (or the user controlling theentity) that is the target or object of the trigger event, and/or otherusers.

Notification decision module 22 may be configured to determine whethernotifications of the identified trigger events should be transmitted.Such determinations may be made based on one or more of an eventparameter, a user parameter, a user setting, an entity parameter, and/orother parameters or information. Event parameters may include one ormore event type, event outcome, event timing, and/or other parameters.

User parameters may be stored in the user accounts managed by usermodule 16. User parameters may include one or more of an activity levelparameter, a previous notification parameter, a notification responseparameter, a user spending parameter, and/or other parameters. Anactivity level parameter may indicate an activity level of the user inthe virtual space. A previous notification parameter may reflectprevious notifications generated to a user. For example, a previousnotification parameter may reflect a time of a previous notification, anumber of notifications within some window of time (e.g., a current day,a current hour, a current week, a rolling window of time, and/or otherwindows of time), a notification frequency, and/or other parametersrelated to one or more previous notifications. A notification responseparameter may reflect a responsiveness of the user to previousnotifications. A user spending parameter may reflect spending of theuser in the virtual space.

User settings may include settings under the direct control of the user.For example, a user may setting may specify certain types of events forwhich notifications should or should not be received, a maximum numberof notifications within some period of time, and/or other userconfigurable settings. In some implementations, user configured usersettings may be adjusted automatically based on user behavior (e.g.,responsiveness, activity, spending, and/or other behavior). However,user settings may differ from user parameters in that user parametersmay be derived from user behavior in the virtual space while usersettings may be controlled directly (e.g., through a control interface).

Entity parameters may reflect information about a user controlled entitywithin the virtual space. Such information may include, for example, astatus, an inventory, a level, a score, a virtual currency account, arelationship (e.g., an alliance, a friendship, and/or otherrelationships), and/or other information. Entity parameters may bestored in the user accounts managed by user module 16.

Notification decision module 22 may be configured such that responsiveto an event being triggered, a set of one or more rules may be accessed.The set of one or more rules may specify, based on one or more of anactivity level parameter, a previous notification parameter, anotification response parameter, a user spending parameter, and/or otherparameters, whether a notification should be sent to one or more of theusers associated with the event. By way of non-limiting example, anattack by a first entity controlled by a first user on a second entitycontrolled by a second user may be identified as a trigger event bytrigger module 20. Responsive to such identification, notificationdecision module 22 may determine whether a notification of the attackshould be sent to the second user. The determination may be based on anactivity parameter of the second user (e.g., no notification may begenerated if the second user is no longer active in the virtual space),a responsiveness of the second user to notifications (e.g., nonotification may be generated if the second user has traditionally notresponded to notifications), a previous notification parameter (e.g., nonotification may be generated if the second user has already received athreshold number of notifications in the past day), and/or otherparameters.

Notification composition module 24 may be configured to composenotifications for transmission to the users. This may includedetermining one or more of notification content, notification format,communication media, and/or other aspects of the notifications.Notification content may include text, images, and/or other contentincluded in a notification. Determining the communication media mayinclude selecting one or more communication media (e.g., email, text,instant message, and/or other media) for a notification. A notificationmay be composed by notification composition module 24 based on one ormore of event parameters, user parameters, user settings, a selectedcommunication media for the notification, and/or other parameters orinformation.

Notifications may include incentive offers for virtual items. A virtualitem may include one or more of an item of clothing, a tool, a weapon, apet, a vehicle, currency, a potion or elixir, ingredients, and/or othervirtual items that exist in the virtual space. A virtual item mayprovide a functional advantage in the virtual space to its owner (e.g.,an advantage in the game). A virtual item may be expressed aestheticallywithin views of the instance of the virtual space. A virtual item mayhave value in the virtual space that facilitates trading the virtualitem for some other consideration within the virtual space (e.g., foranother virtual item, for a service, for an advantage, and/or otherconsideration). Offer determination module 26 may be configured todetermine incentive offers for notifications. This may determine whethera notification should include an incentive offer, determining a virtualitem for inclusion in an incentive offer, determining a discount for anincentive offer, determining a price of one or more virtual items in anincentive offer, and/or determining other parameters of an incentiveoffer. Such determinations may be made, for example, based on eventparameters, user parameters, and/or other parameters.

The determination of an incentive offer may be based on event parameterssuch as, for example, an event type, an event outcome, an event timing,and/or other event parameters. For example, for a notification of acontest event type (e.g., an attack against an entity being controlledby the notified user), offer determination module 26 may be configuredto determine an incentive offer for the notified user of one or morevirtual items that will be useful in the event, an incentive offer forthe notified user of one or more virtual items to replace items lost orused in the event (e.g., at the conclusion of the event), and/or anotherincentive offer relevant to the contest event. For a notification of anupgrade event type, offer determination module 26 may be configured todetermine an incentive offer that includes a virtual item usable withthe upgraded entity or item, an incentive offer of a virtual item thatwill facilitate or speed additional upgrading, and/or another incentiveoffer relevant to the upgrade event. Other determinations of virtualitems for inclusion in incentive offers in notifications based on eventparameters are contemplated.

The determination of an incentive offer may be based on user parameterssuch as, for example, an activity level parameter, a user spendingparameter, and/or other parameters. Determination of an incentive offerbased on an activity level parameter may include attempting to lure aninactive user back to the virtual space (e.g., making a more valuableoffer to less active users). Determination of an incentive offer basedon a user spending parameter may include attempting to entice a user tomake a larger purchase than usual, attempting to entice a user to spendmoney for a different type of virtual item, and/or enticing otherspending behaviors. Other determinations of virtual items for inclusionin incentive offers in notifications based on user parameters arecontemplated.

The incentive offers determined by offer determination module 26 mayinclude incentive criteria. These determinations may be made based onuser parameters, event parameters, and/or other parameters. Incentivecriteria for a given incentive offer may specify one or more conditionsto be met by a user before the user can redeem the given incentiveoffer. The incentive criteria may include, without limitation, atimeliness requirement. The timeliness requirement may specify a time(e.g., from transmission) by which the user must respond to thenotification and/or the incentive offer in order to redeem the incentiveoffer. A user may be said to “respond” to a notification upon logginginto the virtual space subsequent to receiving the notification. Thenotification may include a notification reference that can be providedby the user (and/or client computing platform 14 associated with theuser) that indicates a log in is a response to the notification. Forexample, the notification reference may be provided automatically by theclient computing platform 14 associated with the user responsive toselection of a link included in the notification. The notificationreference may be provided manually by the user upon a subsequent loginto the virtual space. Other techniques for receiving the notificationreference from the user are contemplated.

Notification transmission module 28 may be configured to transmitnotifications to users. Such transmission may be made throughcommunication media external to the virtual space. For example,notification transmission module 28 may transmit notifications to usersvia email, text message, instant message, and/or other communicationmedia external to the virtual space. Communication media external to thevirtual space may include communication media not relayed to the usersby server 12. Instead, such communication may be relayed to the usersthrough an external service provider. As notifications are transmittedto users, records of such transmissions may be made (e.g., in the useraccounts). The records may include information about one or more of aformat of the notifications, the trigger events that triggered thenotifications, the content in the notifications, the communication mediaused to transmit the notifications, and/or other information about thenotifications. These records may be used by notification decision module22, notification composition module 24, offer determination module 26,and/or other modules.

Offer fulfillment module 30 may be configured to facilitate redemptionof incentive offers included in notifications. This may include awardingvirtual items offered to users in accordance with the incentive offers.Awarding the virtual items to users may include providing the virtualitems to the users, and/or to entities under control of the users, inthe virtual space. For incentive offers having incentive criteria, offerfulfillment module 30 may be configured to award the virtual itemsresponsive to the incentive criteria being fulfilled.

Notification response tracking module 32 may be configured to trackresponses to notifications sent to the users. This may include trackingone or more access time(s) for notifications (e.g., throughcommunication with an email or messaging server), interactions with thenotifications, acceptance of offers in the notifications, logins byusers subsequent to receiving notifications, purchase activitysubsequent to receiving notifications, and/or other interactions with orresponses to the notifications. The information obtained by notificationresponse tracking module 32 in tracking responses to notifications maybe saved by the user accounts. The information may be used bynotification decision module 22, notification composition module 24,offer determination module 26, and/or other modules.

Server 12 and/or client computing platforms 14 may be operatively linkedvia one or more electronic communication links. For example, suchelectronic communication links may be established, at least in part, viaa network such as the Internet and/or other networks. It will beappreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scopeof this disclosure includes implementations in which server 12 and/orclient computing platforms 14 may be operatively linked via some othercommunication media.

A given client computing platform 14 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program modules. The computer programmodules may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withthe given client computing platform 14 to interface with server 12,and/or provide other functionality attributed herein to client computingplatforms 14. By way of non-limiting example, the given client computingplatform 14 may include one or more of a desktop computer, a laptopcomputer, a handheld computer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, aSmartphone, a gaming console, and/or other computing platforms.

Server 12 may include electronic storage 34, one or more processors 36,and/or other components. Server 12 may include communication lines, orports to enable the exchange of information with a network and/or othercomputing platforms. Illustration of server 12 in FIG. 1 is not intendedto be limiting. Server 12 may include a plurality of hardware, software,and/or firmware components operating together to provide thefunctionality attributed herein to server 12. For example, server 12 maybe implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together asserver 12.

Electronic storage 34 may comprise electronic storage media thatelectronically stores information. The electronic storage media ofelectronic storage 34 may include one or both of system storage that isprovided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server 12and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server 12 via,for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive(e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage 34 may include one ormore of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.),magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic harddrive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.),and/or other electronically readable storage media. Electronic storage34 may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloudstorage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storageresources). Electronic storage 34 may store software algorithms,information determined by processor 36, information received from server12, information received from client computing platforms 14, and/orother information that enables server 12 to function as describedherein.

Processor(s) 36 is configured to provide information processingcapabilities in server 12. As such, processor 36 may include one or moreof a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designedto process information, an analog circuit designed to processinformation, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronicallyprocessing information. Although processor 36 is shown in FIG. 1 as asingle entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In someimplementations, processor 36 may include a plurality of processingunits. These processing units may be physically located within the samedevice, or processor 36 may represent processing functionality of aplurality of devices operating in coordination. The processor 36 may beconfigured to execute modules 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or 32.Processor 36 may be configured to execute modules 16, 18, 20, 22, 24,26, 28, 30, and/or 32 by software; hardware; firmware; some combinationof software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms forconfiguring processing capabilities on processor 36.

It should be appreciated that although modules 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26,28, 30, and 32 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within asingle processing unit, in implementations in which processor 36includes multiple processing units, one or more of modules 16, 18, 20,22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or 32 may be located remotely from the othermodules. The description of the functionality provided by the differentmodules 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or 32 described below is forillustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any ofmodules 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or 32 may provide more orless functionality than is described. For example, one or more ofmodules 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or 32 may be eliminated, andsome or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones ofmodules 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or 32. As another example,processor 36 may be configured to execute one or more additional modulesthat may perform some or all of the functionality attributed below toone of modules 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and/or 32.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view 40 of a notification generated to inform auser of a trigger event that has occurred in a virtual space. Thenotification may be transmitted to a client computing platformassociated with the user. View 40 of the notification may be presentedto the user on the client computing platform. View 40 may include one ormore of a virtual space/game field 42, a first party entity field 44, athird party entity field 46, an event field 48, an event parameter field50, an event result field 52, an incentive offer field 54, a responsefield 56, and/or other fields or content. Virtual space/game field 42may present a name of the virtual space or game in which the triggerevent occurred. First party entity field 44 may include informationrelated to one or more entities under control of the user in the virtualspace that were impacted by the trigger event. Such information mayinclude a name, a status, a level, inventory information, a health,and/or other information. Third party entity field 46 may includeinformation related to one or more entities not under control of theuser (e.g., under another user's control, or non-player characters).Such information may include a name, a status, a level, inventoryinformation, a health, and/or other information. Event field 48 mayinclude an identification of the trigger event. Event parameter field 50may include event parameters of the trigger event. Event result field 52may include a result of the trigger event. Incentive offer field 54 mayinclude information related to an incentive offer being extended to theuser in the notification. Such information may include one or more of avirtual item offered, a rebate, a price, incentive criteria to befulfilled by the user, and/or other information. Response field 56 mayinclude information that facilitates a response to the notification bythe user. Response field 56 may include information that facilitatestracking of a response of the user to the notification. For example,response field 56 may include a selectable link that results in the userlogging in to the virtual space. Response field 56 may include a code oridentifier to be presented upon a subsequent login to the virtual spaceto indicate such login is in response to the notification (e.g., toaccept an incentive offer). Other types of information are contemplatedfor inclusion in response field 56.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method 60 of providing external notifications ofevents that take place within a virtual space. The operations of method60 presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments,method 60 may be accomplished with one or more additional operations notdescribed, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed.Additionally, the order in which the operations of method 60 areillustrated in FIG. 3 and described below is not intended to belimiting.

In some embodiments, method 60 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 60 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 60.

At an operation 62, an instance of a virtual space may be executed andimplemented to determine view information for transmission to one ormore client computing platforms associated with users. The users mayparticipate in the virtual space by controlling entities therein. Theusers may include a first user. The first user may control a firstentity. In some implementations, operation 62 may be performed by aspace module the same as or similar to space module 18 (shown in FIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation 64, user accounts associated with the users may bemanaged. The user accounts may include a first account associated withthe first user. The first account may include a first set of userparameters that correspond to the first user. In some implementations,operation 64 may be performed by a user module the same as or similar touser module 16 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 66, trigger events in the instance of the virtual spacemay be monitored. In some implementations, operation 66 may be performedby a trigger module the same as or similar to trigger module 20 (shownin FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 68, a first trigger event that impacts the first entitymay be identified during the monitoring performed at operation 66. Thefirst user may be identified as a user associated with the first eventby virtue of the impact to the first entity. In some implementations,operation 68 may be performed by a trigger module the same as or similarto trigger module 20 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 70, responsive to identification of the first triggerevent, a determination may be made as to whether a first notification ofthe first trigger event should be sent to the first user. Thisdetermination may be made on the first set of user parameters, eventparameters related to the first trigger event, and/or other parametersor information. In some implementations, operation 70 may be performedby a notification decision module the same as or similar to notificationdecision module 22 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 72, responsive to a determination that the firstnotification should be transmitted to the first user, a composition ofthe first notification may be determined. In some implementations,operation 72 may be performed by a notification composition module thesame as or similar to notification composition module 24 (shown in FIG.1 and described herein).

At an operation 74, an incentive offer for the first notification may bedetermined. Determining the incentive offer may include determiningwhether an incentive offer for one or more virtual items should beincluded in the first notification, determining the one or more virtualitems for inclusion in the incentive offer, determining a rebate orprice for the one or more virtual items, and/or determining otheraspects of the incentive offer. In some implementations, operation 74may be performed by an offer determination module the same as or similarto offer determination module 26 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 76, the first notification may be transmitted to thefirst user. In some implementations, operation 76 may be performed by anotification transmission module the same as or similar to notificationtransmission module 28 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 78, a response of the first user to the firstnotification may be tracked. In some implementations, operation 78 maybe performed by a notification response tracking module the same as orsimilar to notification response tracking module 32 (shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed herein).

At an operation 80, the incentive offer included in the firstnotification may be redeemed to the first user. In some implementations,operation 80 may be performed by an offer fulfillment module the same asor similar to offer fulfillment module 30 (shown in FIG. 1 and describedherein).

Although the system(s) and/or method(s) of this disclosure have beendescribed in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what iscurrently considered to be the most practical and preferredimplementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely forthat purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosedimplementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to covermodifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood thatthe present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one ormore features of any implementation can be combined with one or morefeatures of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system configured to provide externalnotifications to users of a game, wherein the users include a firstuser, the system comprising: one or more physical processors configuredby machine-readable instructions to: obtain information regarding anoccurrence of a first trigger event in the game, wherein the firsttrigger event is associated with the first user; determine a firstincentive offer for inclusion in a first notification to the first user,wherein the first incentive offer includes an offer for a first virtualitem, and wherein selection of the first virtual item is based on thefirst trigger event, such that the first virtual item is contextual withthe first trigger event; and transmit the first notification to thefirst user via a first electronic communication medium that is externalto the game.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physicalprocessors are further configured to: determine whether the firstnotification of the first trigger event should be transmitted to thefirst user based on at least one user parameter, wherein the at leastone user parameter is specific to the first user; wherein transmissionof the first notification to the first user is responsive to determiningthat the first notification should be transmitted to the first user. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic communication mediumis one of an email, a text message, an instant message, or a pushnotification.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more physicalprocessors are further configured such that the at least one userparameter is based on one or more of: (i) an activity metric thatindicates an activity of the first user in the game, (ii) a parameterdetermined from information related to one or more previousnotifications transmitted to the first user, and/or (iii) a parameterdetermined from a response of the first user to a previous notification.5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first incentive offer isassociated with one or more incentive criteria that must be met for thefirst user to redeem the first incentive offer, and wherein the one ormore incentive criteria include a timeliness requirement that requires aresponse by the first user to the first notification within a certainamount of time from transmission of the first notification.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the determination of the first incentiveoffer is based on a user-specific parameter.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured suchthat the determination of the first incentive offer further includesdetermination of one or more of aa discount for the first virtual itemand/or (ii) a price for the first virtual item.
 8. The system of claim1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configuredsuch that the determination of the first incentive offer is furtherbased on at least one of (i) an event type of the first trigger eventand/or (ii) an outcome of the first trigger event.
 9. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are furtherconfigured to facilitate redemption of the first incentive within thegame.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first incentive offeroffers the first user to purchase the first virtual item.
 11. Acomputer-implemented method of providing external notifications to usersof a game, wherein the users include a first user, the method beingimplemented in one or more physical processors, the method comprising:obtaining information regarding an occurrence of a first trigger eventin the game, wherein the first trigger event is associated with thefirst user; determining a first incentive offer for inclusion in a firstnotification to the first user, wherein the first incentive offerincludes an offer for a first virtual item, wherein determination of thefirst virtual item is based on the first trigger event, such that thefirst virtual item is contextual with the first trigger event; andtransmitting the first notification to the first user via a firstelectronic communication medium that is external to the game.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: determining whether the firstnotification of the first trigger event should be transmitted to thefirst user based on at least one user parameter, wherein the at leastone user parameter is specific to the first user; wherein transmittingthe first notification to the first user is responsive to determiningthat the first notification should be transmitted to the first user. 13.The method of claim 11, wherein the first electronic communicationmedium is one of an email, a text message, an instant message, or a pushnotification.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one userparameter is based on one or more of: (i) an activity metric thatindicates an activity of the first user in the game, (ii) a parameterdetermined from information related to one or more previousnotifications transmitted to the first user, and/or (iii) a parameterdetermined from a response of the first user to a previous notification.15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first incentive offer isassociated with one or more incentive criteria that must be met for thefirst user to redeem the first incentive offer, and wherein the one ormore incentive criteria include a timeliness requirement that requires aresponse by the first user to the first notification within a certainamount of time from transmission of the first notification.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the determination of the first incentiveoffer is based on a user-specific parameter.
 17. The method of claim 11,wherein the determination of the first incentive offer further includesdetermination of one or more of aa discount for the first virtual itemand/or (ii) a price for the first virtual item.
 18. The method of claim11, wherein the determination of the first incentive offer is furtherbased on at least one of (i) an event type of the first trigger eventand/or (ii) an outcome of the first trigger event.
 19. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising facilitating redemption of the firstincentive within the game.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the firstincentive offer offers the first user to purchase the first virtualitem.